Shadowing Practice: Say or Tell? The Listener Trick - Learn English Speaking with Video
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18 sentences
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1
Your best friend just got engaged!
2
You rush home and say, I said him the news!
3
Hmm... something sounds wrong, doesn't it?
4
Here's the trick.
5
Tell needs a listener. Say doesn't.
6
With tell, you name the person straight away.
7
Tell me. Tell her. Tell your boss.
8
With say, the words come first.
9
She said hello. He said it was late.
10
Want to add a person? Use to.
11
He said sorry to me.
12
Wait, what about tell a story?
13
Good catch! A few fixed phrases break the rule.
14
Tell a story, tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a joke.
15
So when you're stuck, look for the listener.
16
Is a person right after the verb? Then tell.
17
No person? Then say.
18
Go on, tell someone what you just learned!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Say or Tell? The Listener Trick”. This video has 18 sentences and 128 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:56. The speaker talks at a steady 138 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 5 of its 18 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| listener noun | /ˈlɪs(ə)nɚ/ | Someone who listens, especially to a speech or a broadcast. |
| rush verb | /ɹʌʃ/ | To hurry; to perform a task with great haste, often not properly or without thinking carefully. |
| trick noun | /ˈtɹɪk/ | Something designed to fool, dupe, outsmart, mislead or swindle. |
| engage verb | /ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/ | To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| joke noun | /ˈd͡ʒoʊ̯k/ | An amusing story. |
| rule noun | /ɹuːl/ | A regulation, law, guideline. |
| catch verb | /kæt͡ʃ/ | To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape). |
| boss noun | /bɔs/ | One who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor. |
| stick noun | /stɪk/ | A small, thin branch from a tree or bush; a twig; a branch. |
| fix verb | /ˈfɪks/ | To attach; to affix; to hold in place or at a particular time. |
| hello | /hɛˈloʊ/ | A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | Your best |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as doesn't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like listener, rush, trick.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.